DISCUSSION: GOOD LUCK? WHAT WILL MAYOR HEALY DO TO IMPROVE BOCCIERI'S "GOOD LUCK?"

Yes, Canton Mayor William J. Healy, II wishes 16th District congressional candidate and state Senator John Boccieri "good luck" in his campaign against state Senator J. Kirk Schuring.

The question becomes: What, if anything, will Healy do to enhance Boccieri's luck?

It may turn out that Boccieri needs tons of luck. That is, if you take seriously an area union official's concern about the oomph of the Boccieri campaign.

The Report has taken the position that this race is Boccieri's to lose given the political reality that the voting public is looking for Democrats to support. But its beginning to look like Boccieri's campaign is not taking advantage of the national trend.

For Boccieri to win the 16th, he must get out the Democratic vote in the urban areas of Stark County. If he doesn't, he will not win.

In today's Repository there is a big hoopla news article about Schuring getting some local (Stark County) union support. Stark County Republicans have long been frustrated in their attempts to break through and get some union support.

The whole union thing by Schuring is to make it appear that organized working men and women of Stark County are open to voting for a Republican even in the face of programs and policies that Democrat leaders say are anti-working-person.

This Schuring effort is interesting in light of a high ranking local union official relating some time ago to the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) a contact from local Republican leader Daryl Revolt (now president of North Canton Council) asking for a sit down in order to discuss ways that local Republicans could get consideration for endorsements from Stark County-based unions.

The question is: Will the Boccieri forces sit idly by and let the Schuring camp pull this union caper off?

A countermand to Republican attempt to get union support would be for area Democrats to get chamber of commerce support. The Report believes that this is territory that Healy could wade into on behalf the Boccieri campaign. Healy in his campaign leading up to being elected mayor and even after election has made it clear that he seeks, perhaps even has, a close association with Canton Regional.

The Report sees Healy as the primary Stark County Democrat that the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce will listen to in terms of what candidates they and the parent organization (the Ohio Chamber of Commerce).

Yet another local organized labor leader told The Report that he is sure he could go get ten local business persons who are members of the Canton Regional/Ohio Chamber of Commerces who are willing to publicly say they support John Boccieri and claim chamber of commerce support. The leader dismissed the Schuring effort as an publicity effort and the named union members do not speak for organized labor.

The Report revisits the question posted above. Exactly what will Healy do to help Boccieri achieve good luck?